Video communication system, terminal, and image converter

Abstract

Image input device ( 57 ) of a mobile phone captures an image of the face of the speaker and stores the captured image data in image memory ( 53 ). Communication image generator ( 52 ) reads the image data stored in image memory ( 53 ) and converts the image data into illustration image data representing an illustration-like image of the speaker. Communication image generator ( 52 ) stores the illustration image data in image memory ( 53 ). Central controller ( 51 ) reads the illustration image data from image memory ( 53 ), and sends the illustration image data via wireless device ( 54 ) and antenna ( 59 ). A mobile phone of the party who the speaker is talking to receives the illustration image data, and displays an illustration-like image of the speaker based on the image data.

1. A video communication system comprising a first terminal for sending image data of an object to be imaged and a second terminal for receiving the image data sent from said first terminal,
 said first terminal comprising image data converting means including: 
 first color converting means for converting components of the image data of the object to be imaged into luminance, saturation, and hue in a color space wherein saturation and hue do not change even if luminance changes or a color space wherein saturation and hue do not converge to one point when luminance has a maximum value; 
 filtering means for performing spatial filtering on said luminance; 
 emphasizing means for performing an emphasizing process to increase said saturation; and 
 second color converting means for converting the luminance on which said spatial filtering has been performed, the saturation on which said emphasizing process has been performed, and the hue into components of said image data; and 
 said second terminal comprising: 
 image display means for displaying an image based on the image data converted by said image data converting means. 
 
     
     
       2. The video communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first terminal further comprises:
 image data generating means for capturing an image of the object to be imaged and generating the image data of the object to be imaged; 
 wherein said image data converting means converts the image data generated by said image data generating means. 
 
     
     
       3. The video communication system according to  claim 2 , wherein said second terminal further comprises:
 changing request sending means for sending a changing request for changing said image data to said first terminal in response to an action of a speaker using said second terminal; and 
 said first terminal further comprises: 
 data-to-be-sent changing means, responsive to said changing request, for controlling the degree of the conversion by said image data converting means based on said changing request or stopping the conversion by said image data converting means, and sending the image data converted by said image data converting means or the image data generated by said image data generating means to said second terminal. 
 
     
     
       4. The video communication system according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a fee management server for calculating communication fees to be billed to speakers using said first and second terminals, respectively, and receiving the changing request sent from said second terminal to said first terminal; 
 said fee management server comprising: 
 communication fee calculating means for calculating communication fees to be billed to the speakers using said first and second terminals after said changing request is received. 
 
     
     
       5. A video communication system comprising a first terminal for sending image data of an object to be imaged, an image converter for receiving the image data sent from said first terminal and converting said image data, and a second terminal for receiving the image data converted by said image converter,
 said image converter comprising image data converting means including: 
 first color converting means for converting components of the image data of the object to be imaged into luminance, saturation, and hue in a color space wherein saturation and hue do not change even if luminance changes or a color space wherein saturation and hue do not converge to one point when luminance has a maximum value; 
 filtering means for performing spatial filtering on said luminance; 
 emphasizing means for performing an emphasizing process to increase said saturation; and 
 second color converting means for converting the luminance on which said spatial filtering has been performed, the saturation on which said emphasizing process has been performed, and the hue into components of said image data; and 
 said second terminal comprising: 
 image display means for displaying an image based on the image data converted by said image data converting means. 
 
     
     
       6. The video communication system according to  claim 5 , wherein said first terminal further comprises:
 image data generating means for capturing an image of the object to be imaged and generating the image data of the object to be imaged; 
 wherein said image data converting means converts the image data generated by said image data generating means. 
 
     
     
       7. The video communication system according to  claim 6 , wherein said second terminal further comprises:
 changing request sending means for sending a changing request for changing said image data to said first terminal in response to an action of a speaker using said second terminal; and 
 said image converter further comprises: 
 data-to-be-sent changing means, responsive to said changing request, for controlling the degree of the conversion by said image data converting means based on said changing request or stopping the conversion by said image data converting means, and sending the image data converted by said image data converting means or the image data generated by said image data generating means to said second terminal. 
 
     
     
       8. The video communication system according to  claim 7 , wherein said image converter further comprises:
 communication fee calculating means for calculating communication fees to be billed to the speakers using said first and second terminals after said changing request is received. 
 
     
     
       9. A terminal for sending image data to another terminal, comprising:
 image data converting means including: 
 first color converting means for converting components of the image data of the object to be imaged into luminance, saturation, and hue in a color space wherein saturation and hue do not change even if luminance changes or a color space wherein saturation and hue do not converge to one point when luminance has a maximum value; 
 filtering means for performing spatial filtering on said luminance; 
 emphasizing means for performing an emphasizing process to increase said saturation; and 
 second color converting means for converting the luminance on which said spatial filtering has been performed, the saturation on which said emphasizing process has been performed, and the hue into components of said image data. 
 
     
     
       10. The terminal according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 image data generating means for capturing an image of the object to be imaged and generating the image data of the object to be imaged; 
 wherein said image data converting means converts the image data generated by said image data generating means. 
 
     
     
       11. A terminal for receiving image data generated by imaging an object to be imaged from another terminal, comprising:
 image data converting means including: 
 first color converting means for converting components of the image data of the object to be imaged into luminance, saturation, and hue in a color space wherein saturation and hue do not change even if luminance changes or a color space wherein saturation and hue do not converge to one point when luminance has a maximum value; 
 filtering means for performing spatial filtering on said luminance; 
 emphasizing means for performing an emphasizing process to increase said saturation; and 
 second color converting means for converting the luminance on which said spatial filtering has been performed, the saturation on which said emphasizing process has been performed, and the hue into components of said image data; and 
 image display means for displaying an image based on the image data converted by said image data converting means. 
 
     
     
       12. An image converter for receiving image data generated by imaging an object to be imaged from a first terminal, converting said image data, and sending the converted image data to a second terminal, comprising:
 image data converting means including: 
 first color converting means for converting components of the image data of the object to be imaged into luminance, saturation, and hue in a color space wherein saturation and hue do not change even if luminance changes or a color space wherein saturation and hue do not converge to one point when luminance has a maximum value; 
 filtering means for performing spatial filtering on said luminance; 
 emphasizing means for performing an emphasizing process to increase said saturation; and 
 second color converting means for converting the luminance on which said spatial filtering has been performed, the saturation on which said emphasizing process has been performed, and the hue into components of said image data; and 
 sending means for sending the image data converted by said image data converting means to said second terminal. 
 
     
     
       13. The image converter according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 data-to-be-sent changing means, responsive to a changing request for changing said image data from said second terminal, for controlling the degree of the conversion by said image data converting means based on said changing request or stopping the conversion by said image data converting means, and sending the image data converted by said image data converting means or the image data generated by imaging the object to be imaged to said second terminal. 
 
     
     
       14. The image converter according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 communication fee calculating means for calculating communication fees to be billed to the speakers using said first and second terminals after said changing request is received.